“Church planting and church revitalization are really similar,” he said. “No. They are not,” I replied.
The gravity of the New Testament paradigm reveals that churches are birthed from the harvest (Acts 13-14), not started with a pastor and long-term Kingdom citizens. This does not mean the latter is wrong; it is just not the expectation.
Church revitalization means a church is already in existence and in need of revitalization. There is tradition, structure, and history in place with the saints and the community.
Some folks are asking why be involved in church planting: “We already have so many churches that need to be revitalized.” My response: “Yes, many of them need to be revitalized. And more churches are needed; there are at least 540 unreached people groups in North America.”
Authors write books that equate planting and revitalization. Some church and denominational leaders equate planting and revitalization. I have heard of training programs that simultaneously train leaders for planting and revitalization.
I am 110% supportive of church revitalization. I have trained numerous church leaders to be involved in such ministry. I am 110% supportive of church planting. I have trained numerous people to be involved in such ministry. If you missed what our church is doing in these two areas, this series may be of interest to you.
Church planting is not church revitalization.
Much of the confusion comes from the lack of an apostolic missiology. Planting and revitalization are apples and oranges. Don’t mix them. You create confusion in the Church when you do. Just look around in North America.
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David Platt was my guest last week on Strike the Match. Check out our conversation and subscribe at iTunes or through RSS.
I think it largely depends on what remains to be “revitalized.” When about all that is left is a building, some money and a handful of people, a planting focus is helpful and similar. My intent was to plant and now I am in a replant. We’ve gone from that team of 10-12 who remained, totally open to retooling everything, to about 150 in 18 months. About all that remains the same is the name and location. I’ve approached it mostly with a plant mentality. There are a number of obstacles that come with inheriting a building but also a number of advantages. The most encouraging is that 25-30% of the growth has gone beyond the normal sheep shifting to true evangelistic growth. The biggest negative is that the existing building has come with a harsh reputation that we have to work to overcome. Our growth is relational and missional. We’ve done no marketing, bought no banners and placed no lawn signs. I doubt we will. Right now, people are simply sharing life and inviting neighbors into community. There are similarities to planting in our case. If someone gives you a free building and funding and is truly open to doing whatever is necessary to reach people, please don’t immediately dismiss the idea just because it doesn’t fit the stereotypical “plant” mold.
Thanks, Scott, for the comment. I am very thankful to hear of your ministry and the 25-30% conversion growth–that is great! As I wrote in the post, I am not dismissing either planting or revitalization, just noting they are not the same.
I see where you’re going with this, and while I don’t disagree completely, I also do not agree. As a church planter and now a church revitalizer, who works with both, I see great similarities and employed the techniques of church planting to revitalize the established church that I was called to. In 2010 I accepted a call to a dying 110 year old church, with ply about 20 people left from a once thriving congregation (the sanctuary seats 300). I began by cutting the programs and gathered the 20 as the core team and that was our starting point. As of today, we are 140 and growing and now planting another church within the area, but using a comprehensive model, not reproduction or multiplication. I am a proponent and teach that there are great similarities, especially in teaching the aspects of missional community–something which was lost prior and something that I believe is lost within many dying churches. Regardless, I’m not an expert, just a guy on the front lines, who is utilizing the hard-wiring gifts of apostolic ministry, which God has given.
That should have been 2012, I was called, not 2010. Sorry.
Thanks, Matt, for sharing. It is great to hear of your ministry!
Got it.
Thank you! As a pioneering planter in a dark corner of Pittsburgh I get so tired of hearing pastors with a building and 20 people say they are like a church plant. I always want to say, “No, you aren’t. Stop saying that.” However, there are mostly empty buildings here where the gospel used to be preached so I acknowledge that I am replanting the gospel in this area.
Thanks, Eric! Keep up the great work there!